A Singaporean court has meted out a nine-day jail sentence to an Australian man, Johnson Wen, 26, for his outrageous behavior at the Asia premiere of "Wicked: For Good" last Thursday. Wen was found guilty of causing a public disturbance after he was captured on videos leaping over the barriers, lunging towards, and grabbing Ariana Grande's shoulders while jumping up and down, leaving the Hollywood star visibly shocked.
The incident sparked fury in Singapore, with many calling for Wen's arrest and deportation. The Australian man, known for his history of disrupting concerts and celebrity events, was accused of "re-traumatizing" Grande who has spoken of experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder after a suicide bomb attack at her May 2017 concert in Manchester that killed 22 people and injured hundreds.
Wen's second attempt to jump the barricades was halted by security staff who pinned him down. The next day, Singapore police arrested him and charged him with public nuisance. Wen pleaded guilty, posting videos on his social media accounts thanking Grande and stating that he was "free".
Prosecutors sought a week's jail for Wen, arguing that he was a "serial intruder" who publicized his behavior to gain popularity online. Wen has previously posted videos of himself disrupting concerts by Katy Perry and The Weeknd, and invading the pitch at various sporting events. He is reportedly banned from some stadiums in Australia and has incurred large fines.
In mitigation, Wen told the judge that he would "not do it again". Under Singapore's laws against public nuisance, Wen could have been jailed for up to three months, fined up to S$2,000 (£1,167; $1,537), or both.
While Grande has not commented on the case, her co-star Cynthia Erivo alluded to the incident when she spoke about her relationship with Grande while making the movie. "We have come through some stuff in our lives, our daily workings... even this last week, let's be honest," she said.
